PS 3511 

L445 
C6 
1920 
Copy 1 





^^^^R 



© BilOWrl 



a:-}' 



^m 




Class J^Sj2u5LLL 
Bnolc .L44..^C (^ 



CilBaUGHT OEPOSm 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



BY 

SARAH LEE BROWN FLEMING 

Author of Hope's Highway 




THE CORNHILL COMPANY 
BOSTON 






Copyright, 1920 

by 

THE CORNHILL COMPANY 



m]l 30 1920 

©CI.A604407 



THIS LITTLE BOOK 

I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE 

TO MY CHILDREN, 

DOROTHY AND HAROLD 



CONTENTS 

Dorothea i 

tuskegee 2 

Death 3 

When Love Sleepeth 5 

Come Let Us Be Friends 6 

Man's Inconstancy 7 

Comfort 9 

The Spirit of a Friend lo 

My Fortune ii 

The Witch 14 

Pal, Let's Be True 15 

A Nibbling Mouse 16 

Boy At School in England 18 

What Is It? 20 

Mammy 25 

De Tango Lesson 2.y 

Back-Sliding Liza 30 

The Lonesome Man 32 

The Black Man's Plea 35 

Emancipation Celebration 37 

Radiant Woman 40 

The Dying Negro 42 

The Black Man's Hope 44 

An Exhortation 46 

Pictures 48 

Night Song 5^ 

Put Away That Ukelele 53 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



DOROTHEA 

The stars in Heaven now shine with a fuller, 

gladder light, 
My days no longer seem a long and dreary night; 
Since thou dost love me dear, all things seem 

more than bright, 

Dorothea, Dorothea, my own Dorothea. 

If griefs and sorrows come, they do not pierce so 

deep. 
If tears bedim my eyes they are the bitter-sweet, 
If death doth part us here, I know somewhere 

we'll meet, 

Dorothea, Dorothea, my own Dorothea. 

And e'en though death does come, I'll always see 

thy face. 
Thy hand within my own I ever will embrace. 
Remembrance of thee in my soul will have a place. 
Dorothea, Dorothea, my own Dorothea. 



ri] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



TUSKEGEE 

Sacred spot on which thou art, 

O school of industiy. 
Thou art doing well thy part 

To aid humanity. 

On thy consecrated ground 
Is carved a wondrous story, 

Out of chaos, Washington 
Raised this place to glory. 

The world has made a beaten track 

Unto thy very door, — 
A fountain on the desert sands 

Thou art for evermore. 



[2] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



DEATH 

The spirit out of it hath flown, 
And left the body all alone, 
So after all, what is this clay. 
Which we so cherish, can you say? 

Look on this form now still in death. 
The force is gone which we call breath; 
The faculties, yes, evei-y one. 
Have stopped their use, with spirit gone. 

O death, thou art so grim and drear. 
What awful silence thou doth wear. 
And thou must visit ev'ry one, — 
Yes, every being 'neath the sun. 

O, death, thou art a woeful state. 
All mankind well doth thee berate, — 
Because we know not what awaits 
Beyond thy grey, mysterious gates. 

Ah death, if I could truly say, 

"I fear thee neither night nor day!" 

If I but knew to what estate 

My wandering spirit might awake — 

[3] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

I would not quake when thou art near, 
Thy presence I would not so fear; 
But 'tis the mystery that attends 
Thy awful mission, that offends. 



[4] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



WHEN LOVE SLEEPETH 

Love built a fairy bower, with roses red and white, 
And watched it ev'ry hour to keep the flowers 

bright: 
For oh, it was so fair, this bower which love did 

make, — 
A benediction, prayer, its perfume ever spake. 

And when the chill frost came. Love showered 

warmth and kisses, 
For whom Love doth caress, the frost he surely 

misses: 
But one night Love did sleep, the frost was round 

about, 
He pierced the roses deep to blot their sweetness 
out. 

Oh, desolation drear hath gripped Love's rosy 

bower. 
No brightness find we there, for Love hath lost 

all power, 
Ah, Love will sometimes sleep, too oft when 

needed most, 
And will not always keep forever at her post. 



[5] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



COME LET US BE FRIENDS 

Come, let us be friends, you and I, 

E'en though the world doth hate at this hour; I 
Let's bask in the sunlight of a love so high 

That war cannot dim it Tvith all its armed | 
power. \ 

Come, let us be friends, you and I, 

The world hath her surplus of hatred today; 
She needeth more love, see, she droops with a 
sigh, 

Where her axis doth slant in the sky far away. 

Come, let us be friends, you and I, 

And love each other so deep and so well, 

That the w^orld may grow steady and forward fly, 
Lest she wander towards chaos and drop into 
hell. 



[6] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



MAN'S INCONSTANCY 

The earth revolves, 

The sun doth shine, 
The moon at night. 

With stars divine, 
All tell us that 

Fond nature's way, 
Is much the same 

Prom day to day. 

We know at night. 

When tasks are done, 
We'll sleep to wake 

And greet the sun. 
We know the spring 

With gentle grace, 
To summer will 

Give up its place. 

What man is like 

Pond nature true? 
Can we depend 

On what he'll do? 
Today he steps 

With heavy tread. 
Tomorrow finds 

Him full of dread. 

[7] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Today he'll swear 

By all the gods 
You can rely 

Upon his words. 
Tomorrow, he 

Will say to you, 
"I did not speak 
Those words untrue." 

And so it is, 

Prom day to day, 
We can't depend 

On what men say. 
All thro' our hves 

We'll meet but few 
Whom we can trust, 

Whose hearts beat true. 



[8] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



COMFORT 

I take my cares to Jesus, 
And lay them at His feet. 

He will for every sorrow 
Give consolation sweet. 

Upon my head He places 

His hand so tenderly, 
He tells me that He giveth 

His love to comfort me. 

Oh Christ, Oh Benediction, 
Where could I go for rest. 

But here upon thy foot-stool, 
Or else upon thy breast? 

Dear Savior, I do feel thee 

Forever at my side; 
Take not from me thy presence. 

But with me e'er abide. 



[9] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



THE SPIRIT OF A FRIEND 

Back to the dust went the dust of the body, 

But the spirit that turned to its Maker on high, 
Filled the air, as it passed, with so wistful a 
sweetness. 
That its fragrance will linger through years 
that slip by. 



[10] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



MY FORTUNE 

A gypsy wandered by one day, 
When I was young and blithe and gay, 
She begged me in a way so free, — 
"Come, have your fortune told by me.'* 

Now certainly, if we could chance, 
To know our future in advance. 
Would we not think the matter o'er, 
Before the gypsy left our door? 

Well, this I did, in days before 
Experience had taught me; Lo, 
I told her I would pay her well. 
If she my future life would tell. 

I sat me down, and so did she. 
My hand she took upon her knee; 
"Ah, Miss," said she, "will you but hear. 
These rings you have shall cost you dear." 

The precious rings I treasured so, 

A mother's gift, if you must know. 

I said "If these I should not wear 

I'll take them off and hold them dear." 

[11] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

"Ah, no," she said, "that will not do"; 

I'll hold them for a blessing, true. 

And when I give them back again, 

The world can ne'er more cause thee pain." 

*'Gypsy," I said, "I cannot part 

With these dear rings so near my heart, 

A mother's gift I must retain, 

Gypsy, you plead for these in vain!" 

She said, "If you'll not give them o'er, 
111 luck I see for you in store. 
Circles around thee do revolve. 
In blackness they will thee involve!" 

"Give o'er thy rings and thou shalt see 
Thy bondage turned to liberty. 
Riches and love and fame are thine, 
Circles so bright do thee enshrine!" 

Her eye was set upon my gold. 
Plotting for it her heart was cold ; 
No sentiment could change her aim, 
Her blood was up, for gold she came. 

Forgive me, friends, when this I say, 
I forthwith gave those rings away. 

[12] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

I truly thought she had the power 
To change my fortune in that hour. 

I've Hved to learn since that sad day, 
That none can know — whatever you pay, 
Your fortune lies twixt God and you 
Who says he knows, he speaks untrue. 



[13] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



THE WITCH 

Lo, the witch all skriveled and old! 
Come in and have your fortune told. 
She, by the aid of a magic wand, 
Can see the future in your hand. 
What in your hand she cannot trace, 
She'll surely find it in your face. 
She'll tell you when you're going to wed, 
If the friend long gone is ahve or dead. 
If you'll be ^oot or you'll have gold. 
Come in and hare your fortune told! 



[14] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



PAL, LET'S BE TRL'E 

Pal, let'5 be true, 

I wim will you? 

Our country calls to the strife. 

Come to its aid. 

Don't be afraid, — 

For it to save, what's a Kfe? 

Yes, we will go. 

Fighting? All more, — 

We'll never know a retreat. 

Proudly we move. 

And e'en will prove. 

Our fight the best in the feat 

Wonderful land. 

Think of the hand 

America takes in the nght. 

Hers is to brave. 

Hers is to save. 

For justice, truth and the right. 



[15] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



A NIBBLING MOUSE 

The swiftest, nibbling, little mouse, 
Has made its home within my house, 
I set a trap both night and day, 
To try and catch it if I may, — 
This nibbling, little mouse. 

Today when writing at my desk, 
Out it came to make a quest. 
It ran around with so much glee, 
Seemed not a bit afraid of me, — 
This nibbling, little mouse. 

Straightway I rose and got my broom 
To chase the creature from the room. 
Round and round it scampered fast; 
Trying to catch, I darted past 
This nibbhng, httle mouse. 

We kept the chase up half an hour, 
Until I felt I'd lost all power 
To chase behind it any more. 
So left it prattling on the floor, — 
This nibbling, little mouse. 

All tired out, I then sat down 
And soon within a study, brown, 

[16] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

I thought of phantoms, as they pass, 

And how thro' hfe we chase them as 

This nibbhng, Httle mouse. 

Yes, all thro' life we find it so, — 
Chasing shadows as we go, 
We almost catch them, but alas, 
They baffle us and slip on, as 
This nibbling, little mouse. 



[17] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



BOY AT SCHOOL IN ENGLANT) 

Mother, coiild you but know 
What thoughts I have of thee, 

Your little boy so far away, 
In this land across the sea. 

Mother, could you but look 

Within my eyes so wet 
With tears, because I miss you so, — 

This yearning I regret 

Could you but listen as I talk 
Of love and home and you; 

My heart so fills I cannot keep 
The grief from coming through. 

Last night I dreamed I felt 
Your kiss upon my cheek. 

And thought I could not Uve without 
That touch another week, 

The boys aiomid have mothers 
Who see them off and on. 

Sometimes I feel so lonesome. 
As if mine were dead and gone. 
[IS] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Oh, Mother, it is awful when 
A boy can't have the treat 

To see his mother now and then. 
Such luck, it can't be beat 

Say, Mother, won't you promise 
"^Tien the next big ship sets sail. 

You'll come yourself upon it. 
Instead of sending mail? 



[19] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



WHAT IS IT? 

There is a subtle something 
That speaks where'er you go, 

By tongue it is not uttered, 

Than words it speaks much more. 

You go forth on your missions. 

And carry it along; 
It's hke some beauteous flower, 

And like some soothing song. 

It's like some fragrant perfume 
That's wafted by the breeze. 

It gives out so much comfort 
It sheds abroad such ease. 

What is this subtle something? 

Folks ask me, and I say 
I cannot well define it 

Nor either teach the way. 

It is an inner something. 

I know that it must be 
Clear shining through your body 

And giving light to me. 

[20] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

I love to have you near me. 

Just why I cannot say, 
But this I know, your presence 

Just changes night to day. 

Methought I saw a halo 

Surrounding your fair form, 

When you approached that mother 
Whom death had left forlorn. 

And then when asked for service, 

As fleet ful as a bird, 
You answered with a presence 

Which spoke far more than word. 

I would, if you would charge me, 
Perform some duty true. 

That I may ever daily 
Grow more like unto you. 

What is that subtle something 
You carry where you go? 

I long to have you name it 
Oh do, that I may know. 



[21] 



DIALECT POEMS 



MAMMY 

Large of frame, black of face, 
Spotless apron 'round her waist, 
Teeth so pearly, eyes so true, 
Make you think of heav'n so blue, 
That's Mammy. 

Moving 'round the house with ease, 
Trying ev'ryone to please. 
In and out with so much grace, 
Acting like she owned the place, 
That's Mammy. 

Sister trudging down the hall 
Trips o'er rug and has a fall, 
Quick as lightning Mammy's there 
Fussing with the hurt and scare. 
Dear Mammy. 

Jane has fallen in the dirt. 
Soiled all her nice new skirt, 
Comes a-cryin' to the place; 
Stops soon as she sees the face 
Of Mammy. 
[25] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Mammy soothes the hurt and scare 
Till there's none left anywhere, 
With her "Hush, now Honey, do! 
Mammy loves you through and through/ 
Oh Mammy! 

Mammy now has passed away, 
But the memory lives today 
With me, and shall never die, 
Though the years go flitting by. 
Blest Mammy. 



[26] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

DE TANGO LESSON 

Start up de ban' ! 
De men folks stan' 
And take yo' partners for dis 
tango-flam. 

Now step right so, — 
Light on de flo', 

Forward, — an* now backward 
you all mus' go. 

Don' step so hard, 
O, bless de Lord! 
See Jim done shp like 
de flo' is lard. 

Now start again, 
I makes it plain, 
Forward an' backward 
den ben' yo' frame — 

Now do it once mo', 
Den I'll say go, — 
And' keep up dat move- 
ment all roun' de flo'. 
[27] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Miss Nancy Jane, 
Ketch up yo' train! 
It mus'n't be a-draggin'; 
Does I speak plain? 

Look at dem feet, 
See how they meet. 
No regiment of soldiers 
is got dem beat. 

Now ain't dat gran, 
Jus' watch Jack Ran, 
He's leadin' dem dancers 
like a soldier man! 

Look at ole Pop, 
Jus' like a top, 
I ain't seed him move 
from dat one spot! 

Watch sister Cloe, 
How she do go, 
A-swingin' an' a-swayin' 

jus' watch her on de flo' ! 

Watch Ephraim's pace, 
Now ain't dat grace? 
Lor' help .me, dese darkies 
is jus' eatin' up de place! 

[28] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Just' watch dat time, 
How dey keeps in line; 
Lor' help me, dis music 

and dis dancin' is divine! 

Ah, let 'er go! 
Hear dat music flow, 
Dey's playin' dis tango, 
like dey ain't no mo! 

Lookat ole Pop! 
Make dat music stop. 
He's dancin' like de devil 

done nail him to dat spot! 

Here, clear de flo', 
Sam, ope' de do'. 
We ain't gwine to dance 
dis tango any mo'. 



[29] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



BACK-SLIDING LIZA 

What's dat Honey, you jis say, 
World ain't 'ligious in dis day? 
Bless my soul, jis' know dat's so? 
I done knowed dat long ago. 
Lord dis world does move so fas', 
'Ligion now's a thing o' the pas' ; 
Wonder what's the end to be, 
I don' know an' I can't see. 
All I know I'm satisfied. 
Lord I's stickin' on your side. 
Dere's my gal, — Liza Jane, 
Lordy me, dat gal is vain, 
All she thinks about is style. 
Lord, dat gal'll drive me wil'. 
Talk about your edication, 
Lize kin read thro' Revelation, 
But her 'ligion's been neglected. 
Lize's soul has ne'er been 'fected. 
Honey, don't you know dese schools 
Never had no kind of rules. 
All my money gone to waste 
Lize can't pray now, lost de tas'. 
What I gwine to do. Miss Ca'line, 
Wid dat wayward gal o' mine. 
Pray an' it will be alright? 
Well, I prays both day an' night, — 
[30] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Lord, do take dis gal o' mine, 
In dose mighty hands o' thine. 
Shut her eyes to all dis show, — 
So invitin' here below. 
Show her Lord, de perfec' way, 
I done foun' dis many a day. 
When she, Lord, Thy love confes' 
Shier her, Father, on Thy breas'. 



[31] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



THE LONESOME MAN 

Little Rassus Wickens, sittin' in de do*, 
Mammy's gone to market, hear him cryin* low, 
"Mammy why'd you go an' lef me all a-lone, 
Fs yo' little Honey, Mammy, come back home.'* 

All de odder chil'n playin in de san' 
But dis little darkey is one lonesome man, — 
Listen to dose heart-throbs as he cries so low. 
Little Rassus Wickens, sittin' in de do*. 

Ah, within dat chile-breas', chile of darkes' hue,- 
Mother love is dyed in royal color too, 
Listen to dose heart-throbs, as he cries so low. 
Little Rassus Wickens, sittin' in de do'. 



[32] 



RACE POEMS 



THE BLACK MAN'S PLEA 

Chains of bondage did imprint, 
Far deeper wounds than one could see. 
Sinking through flesh and blood and bone, 
They struck the deeper life that is 
Beneath the flesh, wherein doth course 
The blood that carnal life doth give. 
Their piercing darts did w^ound the hfe, 
That's more than carnal in the man. 
Stag'ring underneath the blow, 
Which quelled a hfe-blood for a while, 
And which today hath not regained 
Its former circulation. Life-blood 
That doth make men, men! Not the 
Corpuscles of red and white that 
Coursing through veins do lend them hue. 
But, life-blood that doth give that force 
Which makes a glorious race of men. 
And fills with pride and all things true. 
Giving an everlasting hope! 

Prostrate he lay upon his back 
Till freedom nursed him back again 
To perfect health? — Ah, far from that, 
'Tis long 'ere that can be enjoyed. 

[35] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

The race, still crippled by the blow 

Is like a tree supposed dead, — 

Showing now and then some signs of life. 

Mankind! no blow is great as that 

Which strikes through flesh and blood and bone. 

And wounds the vital parts where lives 

The greater, nobler life of man. 

Ye who look without today, 
Upon a race of tardy men. 
Whose step is lax and spirit slow; 
Although they measure not with those 
Who, generations freed, have built 
What liberty alone can raise, 
Great monuments, — that do proclaim 
Much credit to their mighty minds. 
Forbearance, do I ask of you. 

And do not chide this crippled race 
That, convalescent, tries to stand 
But totters still from slav'ry's blow. 
Tear down your veil of prejudice. 
And look ye forth with naked eye 
Upon the field of wounded men. 
See, some do rise above that plain 
Of desolation and despair. 
And still go forth with willing hands 
To turn the wheels of progress too. 
In spite of all that was and is. 

[36] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION 

Dear friends, we're gathered here tonight, 
To celebrate a great birth-right; 
Which came to us when Lincoln said 
That bondage must be stricken dead; 
Or else the country great and grand, 
Would totter so it could not stand. 
To him appeared in Spirit bold. 
The great George Washington of old. 
Said he, "This conflict cannot last. 
It drains our country's hfe blood fast. 
Haste Lincoln! set these people free, 
It is not right, it must not be. 

So Lincoln we all know so well, 
Did set them free. Could I but tell 
What shouts arose when bonds were broke. 
The country trembled at the stroke 
When slav'ry fell. A few remain. 
The G. A. R.'s, to tell again 
How on the field of fire and blood 
They risked their lives, and bravely stood 
To help the cause, with all their might. 
Dear friends, they are our guests to-night, 
Since dear old Lincoln is not here, 
They are the next to him most dear. 

[37] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

From slavery forth, without one cent, 
With spirit broke, my people went 
To wander in the world so cold ; ' 

To find a place, and oft were told, 
Your pedigree we cannot trace, — 
You're classed with an unfavored race. 
Forthwith they went with awful taint. 
The nature now I will not paint; 
The chattels of another race. 
O God, 'twas hard to find a place. 
Who says the race has not progressed? 
He doth not know, we've had the test. 

Despite these drawbacks ev'ry one. 
We're here to tell what we have done. 
And say, if some do not advance 
As people do who've had the chance 
Of longer years than we've been free. 
Just reason why and you shall see. 
See what we've done in fifty years! 
Another fifty are my prayers 
The man unborn will yet perceive 
A progress now we can't conceive. 

He to the world will then expose, 
A worthier race and how it rose. 
We've gone part way and I discern 
The light of hope as it doth burn. 

[38] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Plod on, my race, to reach the goal ; 
The path is rough, but that's the toll. 
Plod on, to get with all our might. 
The things we ought with our birthright! 



[39] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



RADIANT WOMAN 

I passed among the lowly poor, 

Within a little street, 
A mother sat within her door, 

A baby at her feet. 

In speaking of that mother, 

I cannot say that she 
Had pedigree behind her. 

The same as you, or me. 

For she was bound in body, 
(As some are wont to say). 

Her race, not very lofty. 
Was being crushed that day. 

'Tis sad it is the custom. 
In this enlightened time. 

That people, not in wisdom. 
Are prone to draw a line, — 

And say that human creatures. 
Because their skin is black. 

Because they've ugly features. 
Must all be pushed right back. 

[40] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

This mother as she sat there, 

Did open up to me, 
A realm, so full of grandeur, 

Prom darkness, oh, so free! 

Her face though in its blackness, 

Was radiant as the sun. 
Her features, plain and homely, 

Seemed glorious ev'ry one. 

What was this revelation, 
I asked myself that day? 

That wondrous penetration. 
That to my soul made way? 

yes, 'twas more than human. 
I must in truth admit. 

1 saw more than the woman 

Who in the door did sit. 

I saw that inward something 

A-calling out to me, — 
"Look you beyond the body, 

Divinity you'll see!" 

The look that was so glorious, 
Transplanted on that face. 

Told me a Christ victorious. 
Had in her heart found place. 

[41] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



THE DYING NEGRO 

Seems to me in lookin' over yonder, 
I see the day a-growin' very dark, 

Seems to me while in dis' Ian' I wander, 
No joyful song is heard from sin gin' lark. 

Seems to me some lonesome note is stealin', 
O'er barren waste, from achin' people's souls. 

Seems to me I hear some lips repeatin' 

"That sorrow in dis' Ian' like waves do roll." 

Seems to me I hear some distant voices 
Echoin' forth from slav'ry times to me 

Seems to me they ask me what I sigh for 
And tells me to be happy 'cause I'm free. 

Seems to me I answer an' I tells them 
That slav'ry's chains are broken off my ban's. 

Seems to me those very chains are bindin' 
My soul so close and closer with their ban's ! 

Seems to me I hear my people sighin'. 

For help, God's help, in dis ungrateful Ian', 
Seems to me I hear my people ci-yin' 

''These burdens Lord are more than we can 
Stan'." 

[42] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Seems to me the freedom that we cherished 
Is bein' robbed from out our very lives, 

Seems to me that which wx thought had perished 
Is growin' now to one enormous size. 

Seems to me I hear some holy voices, 
A-chantin' now some heav'nly song to me, 

Seems to me my soul within rejoices, 

For death at las' has come to make me free ! 



[43] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



THE BLACK MAN'S HOPE 

I hear the talk of the white man's hope 

In the ring and at the poll, 
But never a word of the black man's hope 

Do I hear as time doth roll. 

Bowed with the weight which slavery left 

Upon his chattled frame, 
No star of hope comes into view 

The weight is still the same. 

O prejudice, cursed prejudice, 
'Tis thou that blights the way. 

And makes us feel there is no hope 
There is no fairer day. 

Thou poisoned venom, prejudice, 

Who gavest thee thy birth? 
Art bom of devil or of man, 

How earnest thou on earth? 

Fve heard it said that some believe, 

That God so in his love 
Ordained that man be bound to mian, 

Do you believe the above? 
[44] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Do you believe such laws are made 
That blacks should till the soil, 

While other races reign supreme, 
Removed from all such toil? 

Why, God created all men here 

Upon one level plane. 
All bodies of the dust were made, 

To dust must go again. 

Then why should color play such part 

Upon this mortal earth? 
No man has power to change his skin, 

WE'RE ACCIDENTS OP BIRTH. 



[45] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



AN EXHORTATION 

Is there no prophet, seer nor bard, 

At this compelHng time. 
To sing a song or say a word. 

Or even write a line? 
Is there an ear that will not hear, 

The wails, the groans of men. 
Of suckling infants, babes unborn. 

Oh, who will ease their pain? 

Is there a mouth that will not speak. 

Of wrongs they do endure, 
No tongues that in a language may 

Some remedy outpour? 
Speak, oh, ye long dumb mouths, oh speak, 

And to a people tell 
The burden forced upon you now 

Makes earth to you a hell. 

A battle fierce is raging, 

Unhke the usual fray, 
*Tis worse than other conflicts 

That are fought by night or day. 
Those men at last find succor, 

The helpless blind and lame. 
But none comes to that woeful depth, — 

The heart, when full of pain. 
[46] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

This pain's an awful burden, 

To trudge on day by day. 
It crushes soul and body 

And makes indifference play; 
It shoots right to the marrow 

Of life, its hopes, and oh, 
Threatens the very right to live, 

Tries manhood to o'erthrow. 

O bards, who in the days of yore. 

Did move a nation's heart. 
Who with your great and glorious strain 

Did still a turbulent mart. 
Come sing again another strain 

Of duty, and above 
All else, oh, sing that glorious strain, — 

That wondrous strain of love. 

Sing them a wondrous story 

This burdened race of men. 
Paint it with all the glory that 

Can come forth from your pen. 
Set it to tuneful melody. 

As ever man did hear. 
So that a race benighted 

Will sing with heartiest cheer. 



[47] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 
PICTURES 

I. SLAVERY 

Gaze on this picture of the past, 
See cruel master, whip in hand. 
Upon yon slave, whose back is bent, 
Scourge upon scourge he letteth fall. 
**My God, my God!" the slave doth cry, 
"How long shall I these burdens bear?" 
"To work, to work," the master cries, 
"Go fill my coffers with thy bra^vn." 
Who doth not know, who hath not felt, 
For those who lived in that sad time? 
What is the life of him who slaves. 
Whose body is not called his own? 
They bore the stripes, endured the pain, 
With not one murmur but to pray. 
They sang the songs we all do know, 
The songs that we shall sing again. 
These prayers and songs were wafted up. 
And, oh, they were so wondrous sweet. 
They reached a throne where sits a Judge 
Who judgeth slow but judgeth well. 
They listened and they heard response — 
"I will repay, I will repay!" 

II. WAR 

Then discord rose twlxt North and South, 
'Twas over slaves, you know it well. 

[48] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Came Ab'ram Lincoln to the front, 
A bloody battle to pursue. 
See war in all its dreadful state, — 
A scourge of men these battles are: 
A price was paid so dear in blood. 
By North and South in that great war, 
That not a home was left without 
Some loved one gone forevermore. 
A cry was made for volunteers 
Who'll answer it? Ah, you can tell. 
See black men marching to the front, 
With steady step and wondrous stride. 
How fearlessly they go to die ! 
And yet they say we are afraid 
To risk our lives for a great cause. 
Yet I believe that you or I 
If needed at some future time, 
Will march as proudly to the front 
As they did then in sixty-three. 

III. FREEDOM 

The war is o'er, the slaves are free. 
They walk abroad as man with man. 
But note the frown upon the brow 
Of yonder man whose skin is fair. 
"I will not walk, as man with man. 
With yonder black," I hear him say, 
"He was not made to cope with me. 
Who rule this land, whose skin is fair." 

[49] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

Then what is this I see unearthed, 
So soon as slavery's debt is paid? 
'Tis prejudice, cursed prejudice, 
Another form of slavery. 

IV. LYNCHING 

See yonder mob, full fifty strong, 
Hound that poor lad of Negro blood. 
He fleeth to the woods, and oh. 
They set the dogs upon his trail. 
At last he's caught, and lo, what then? 
They string him to yon leafless tree. 
And to his clothes they put a flame, 
And now he's in eternity. 

V. DISCRIMINATION 

Not wanted here, not wanted there, 

Such signs go up all o'er the land. 

My God, then are my people free! 

No vote for you, no vote for me. 

Have we not borne the stripes enough. 

Our cry goes up, — *'How long, how long!" 

VI. FUTURE 

Let's leave these pictures of the past. 
And pictures of the present time, 
And wander on and on and on. 
Unto some great approaching dawn. 
My final picture is this one, 

[50] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 

'Tis not with master, whip in hand, 

But it is Black and White, ahke. 

Holding aloft the stars and stripes. 

They've buried far beneath the sod 

Grim prejudice and all lynch laws, 

And all in one united band. 

Proclaim the freedom of the land. 

List, up to heaven there goes a sigh 

Of long restraint, and then a cry, — 

* 'Praise God we're free, at last we're free." 



[51] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



NIGHT SONG 

(NEGRO LULLABY) 
I. 

Honey, take yo* res, on yo' Mammy's breas'. 

See dat light a-fadin' 'mong de pine trees in de 

wes\ 
Yes, de day is gone, night is comin' on, 
Darksome night mus' come to us before another 
dawn. 

Chorus 
Whippo-will is callin', calhn' to his mate, 
Mockin'-bird is calhn' too. 
Pine trees is a-sighin', babies is a-cryin', 
As the dark-some night is passin' through. 
Go to sleep, ma little honey, go to sleep. 
Shut yo' weary eyelid an' don' you weep. 
Sleep and take yo' res', 
On yo' Mammy's breas', 
Night can never harm you here. 

II. 
Honey, don' you see, dat it's got to be. 
Day an' night, yes, day an' night, until yo' spirit's 

free. 
Den you'll quit ma breas', fer to go an' res' 
Wid Anodder, who can pro-tec' you from harm 
de bes'I 

[52] 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE 



PUT AWAY THAT UKELELE AND BRING 
OUT THE OLD BANJO 

I. 

Don't you hear old Orpheus calling to you, Alex- 
ander Poe? 

He says just quit that ukelele and play on the old 
banjo, 

Those Honolulu jingles like the dog has had its 
day, 

Go put the faithful banjo down, put the ukelele 
away. 
Chorus : 

Way down upon the, — I'm coming, yes, I hear that 
music, oh. 

Put away that ukelele man, and play on the old 
banjo. 

2. 

Put away that ukelele, bring me down the old 

banjo. 
Sing again for me the tunes I love, Swanee River 

and Old Black Joe, 
Then play for me those melodies my mother used 

to hum, 
That between each syncopating note, the banjo 

went "Tum, tum." 

Chorus: Way down upon the, etc. 



[53] 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

lliillillllilllili 

015 908 372 A • 



